Max = 6 Months!

We celebrated half-a-year last week!!

SIX whole months with this perfect little man.  

Already.  

Six months is about the time you start wondering how you can possibly continue to breathe if they don't stop growing up so fast.  You wonder if your heart might shatter into a million pieces if one more person comments on how big he is getting.  

(And by you, I mean I . . . although, I think I'm probably in the majority here.)

However, six months is also about the time your baby really starts getting FUN, and therefore . . .  it somehow makes it okay that they're growing up.  

Lots of new and exciting things this month! (and yes, exciting is pretty much a relative term here: )~

Eating solids is probably the most exciting "accomplishment" this month (and he's just started really getting the whole eating thing down this past week).  

It may seem late for solids to some people, but he's whooped his sister in the "eating solids race", for sure!

She wasn't eating any solids (not for lack of trying on my part!) until she was 7 1/2 months!  And even then, it wasn't much.  

So far, I haven't really found anything Max won't eat (he's had apples, pears, peaches, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, and mangos).  He scarfs down the sweet potatoes and pears at lighting speed though!  Those two definitely seem to be his favorites! :-)

He spends most of his time rolling back and forth on the floor or bouncing, bouncing, bouncing in his jumperoo.  

Oh, and chewing . . . on EVERYTHING.  

So far, still no teeth though!  (I'm betting it'll be this month!)

He has got to be one of the HAPPIEST, most laid-back, easy-going babies I've ever seen.  

I truly thought Lucy was the easiest baby on earth . . . until Max came along.  

From airplane rides, to Disneyland, to sitting through sister's dance classes and swim lessons, to church, to (way too many) shopping trips at the mall . . . he just goes with the flow, hangs out in his stroller, sleeps when he's tired, etc.  

Piece of cake!

The one exception is his sleeping (at night).  Though he still ranges from 8-10 hours a night, it's closer to 8 hours than 10 hours more nights than not . . . and getting up at 4:00 in the morning does get old after six months of doing it every night.  But it could be soooo much worse, I know.  And really, getting up for 10 minutes to give him a few ounces of milk and put him right back in his crib (where he sleeps until around 8:00) is not the end of the world.  Especially because he is a fantastic napper, too . . . he takes two big (2-3 hour) naps and another 1-hour nap every day.  

So, it's not like he's sleep-deprived! : )~

And on the night (or sometimes two!) a week when he sleeps closer to 10 hours straight, I am thankful!

No signs of crawling yet. He is not a fan of being on his tummy for long (he just rolls over when I put him on his tummy!), so I'm not quite sure how he's ever going to get a feel for crawling, but he manages to scoot around on his back just fine, so I guess he gets where he needs to go! : )~

His favorite thing in the world is definitely his sister.  He lights up from head to toe the second she looks at him.  And he will laugh (almost uncontrollably) at the simplest things she does.  It is so much fun to watch them!  

Lucy got a kick out of this picture I put together last week . . . 

And I just love seeing them at the same age, side-by-side, like this.  Brings back all of the memories of Lucy being in this same fun and giggly stage.  

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the laundry basket photo this month:

Getting a little squishy in there, but he seemed to think it was fun! : )~

And this . . .

. . . makes me want to smile until my cheeks hurt.  Or cry until I have no tears left.  Or crawl into a corner, assume the fetal position, and wait for someone to hug me and tell me it's going to be okay.  

Why??? WHY do they have to grow so fast?

I love this little guy so much.  

Thankful doesn't begin to describe it.  

It's so easy to forget what we had to go through to get him, but I never want to take the miracle that he is for granted.  

We are so blessed!

Excited to see what month #7 has in store for us! :-)

Tiptoe Through the Tulips, 2013

Before posting Max's 6 month update tomorrow, I wanted to squeeze in a little Lucy!

This is the third year I have posted pictures from our trip to the tulip farm down the road.   It's still hard for me to grasp that she's old enough to have three year's worth of photos from this annual outing, but ...!?? I guess it's reality!
(*Okay, just kidding .... I just went back and checked, and HERE is the 2011 post, but then I remembered - last year (2012), I was sooooo sick right around this time, so the photos didn't make it to the blog!)

Enjoy Lucy and the tulips .... two of my very favorite things! :-)

Lucy and her "best friend", Cam . . .

 It's tough to be a farm girl . . .

Every girl needs a pink John Deere, dontcha think. . . ???

 A ride around the tulip fields in the cow train . . .

So long, tulip farm!  See you next year!

Mother's Day at the Zoo

I figure it's about time for a blog post. 

I try. 

It's Mother's Day, and I'm feeling so blessed and lucky today, so I just felt compelled to share. :-)

We spent most of our day at the zoo! 

Maybe a non-traditional way to celebrate, but they put on an amazing brunch, so we started with that ... and then took a leisurely stroll around the rest of the zoo, too.
(And then Scott wished we could go BACK to the brunch buffet because he was hungry again!  HA! : )~

It was delicious and fun, all wrapped into one!  And perfect weather, to boot! (It's been pretty hot around the Pacific NW lately, so cloudy skies and 65* felt great!)

Oh!  And my sis and bro-in-law are actually home now, too . . . so it was extra-special to have them join us!

Here is my mom ("Nana"), my sister and I, and the kidlets . . .
(oh, and pardon the cell phone pics . . . they are unusually poor quality today, and I'm not sure why!?)

I saw these shirts for Lucy and Max at Old Navy last week, and had to have 'em!  

Perfect for celebrating Nana today!

Oh, Lucy and Nana . . . 

They love each other. :-)

I'm quite certain Nana is Lucy's FAVORITE person.

I just L-O-V-E this next set of pictures.  

They were watching the giraffes and didn't know I was behind them taking pictures (with my phone).  

Soooooo sweet!

. . . Do you think she loves her Nana?  Just a little bit . . . ?

I love the pictures because they show perfectly how those two are ALL the time.  

And I LOVE how much Lucy loves her Nana. (She begs to spend the night with her pretty much every other night!)  

And I try not to take it personally when Lucy tells me she wants to live at Nana's house.  : )~

My mom was a GREAT mom . . . and she's an even better Nana.

My kids are so lucky to have her!

Max might not be able to say it yet . . . 

But I know he LOVES HIS NANA, too!!!

(And yes, he's getting SOOOOOO big!)

This weekend, I've been thinking a lot about how thankful I am to be "Mama" to these two . . . 

They have made me such a better person and have taught me so many things.  

I don't know if I will ever stop being overwhelmed at the awesomeness of the miracle that they are.  

I know there are tough moments and challenging days -- and being a mom is NOT easy.

But I hope I never, never, never take the gift of motherhood for granted.  

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Max = 5 Months!

I'm getting later and later every month, aren't I...?
Better 9 days late than never, I guess!?

Between the poor little guy being sick -- and then our trip to DISNEYLAND, it's been a little busy around here!

But sure enough, Max flew by the five month mark over a week ago!  He is becoming less of a baby and more of a little man every week.  {sniff, sniff!} : (

He's still cute though! : )~
(I know, I know ... I'm his Mama ... I have to say that!)
But it's true.  :-)

And even better . . . he has a personality to match!
I'll do a Disneyland post soon, but this little guy flew to and from California, experienced his first HOT (over 80*) days, went on rides, sat through parades, loud shows/crowds, didn't get a decent nap in four days, and a whole lot more . . . and I can honestly say, he didn't even get fussy once.
Such a little trooper.

As far as his "stats" this month . . . five months is the first month that we don't have a doctor's appointment, so I don't have exact measurements for him this time!  I'm guessing (if he has continued to grow at about the same pace), that he is around 17 pounds though.  Give or take a pound! : )~

He's growing.
That's for sure.
Too fast.

Still sleeping about the same (although, unfortunately, most nights are closer to 8 hours now than 10 ... ugh!  why are we going backwards???), and not too many other differences from last month, either.

He continues to find his voice more and more - and his new favorite thing is a very LOUD screech!  I don't blame him, really . . . with his sister talking at him non-stop, he has to make a BIG noise to be heard!

He is rolling both ways now, still scooting all over the place (mostly on his back), and spinning in circles on his tummy.
We're most likely to find him on his back with his feet in his hands, rolling side-to-side like a little weeble-wobble. : )~
Oh!  And the jumperoo!  I forgot about that when I was updating the chalkboard. (darn!)
He is a jumping maniac now!  I don't know if he loves the jumperoo quite as much his big sister did (she'd stay in that thing for HOURS!. . . although, I'm probably remembering when she was a bit older than this, anyway!), but for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, he has a great time bouncing and playing. :-)

I know these next few months will be filled with lots of big milestones and changes though . . . teeth coming in, eating solids, and crawling are all going to be happening before we know it.  Ready or not!
(And I'm personally leaning more toward the NOT.)

And now, for your viewing enjoyment . . . (okay, probably just for my viewing enjoyment, really) . . . here are some more pics of my sweet lil' Max!

(He's even cute when he's not smiling!:-)

Annnnd, the five month laundry basket photo . . .

Definitely getting a little squishy in there now!  

Here are the first five months:

Oh, how I wish I could go back to the beginning and do it all over already.  

This mama is not ready for her baby to grow up anytime soon. : (

Stay tuned for a Disneyland post in the near future!

Bunny Eggs ... A Family Easter Tradition

Perhaps I should clarify . . . "Bunny Eggs ... MY Family Easter Tradition."

I posted this picture on Instagram and Facebook earlier ... and the response was so surprising, I decided a blog post was in order!

No one seems to know what bunny eggs are!??

(Isn't it funny how you just assume everyone shares the same traditions?)

Easter mornings in my childhood were just as much fun as Christmas mornings . . . my sister and I would wake up early, pester our parents until they got out of bed, grab our baskets, and head out the door in our pajamas.  

We found the eggs that we had dyed the day before, but hidden along with those eggs were always the "mysterious" brown eggs, which my mom always said were bunny eggs!  

We absolutely, 100% believed the Easter Bunny had laid those eggs . . . and we thought they were the COOLEST thing!  Finding the bunny eggs was a BIG DEAL in our household.  

So . . . now that I have a kiddo old enough for egg hunts on Easter morning, you better believe the bunny eggs are happening!  

They are quite simple to make (and yes, I had to ask my mom what the secret was to making them brown!) -- just boil the eggs, as you usually would, but with onion skins in the water!

At the time I was making this batch of bunny eggs (and taking this picture with my phone), I had no idea I would be writing a blog post about it, so these pics are kind of pathetic . . .  but you get the idea!

I don't know if we're the only family hunting for "bunny eggs" on Easter morning . . . and it might be a silly tradition, but it's certainly a special tradition to me, and I can only assume my kids will feel the same way!

Happy Easter to all of you, whatever your traditions may be!  

He is Risen!

Baby Essentials & Favorites!

Now that Max is 4 months old, I am finally getting around to showing you my baby "must haves" and favorite things!

**Notice I did not say anything about budget-friendly, most practical, or most popular ... these are simply MY favorite baby items! I know the graphic says 0-3 months .... but that's not to say these are ONLY used in those few months -- they're just the items I have loved the most SO FAR (and I'm sure I will continue enjoying most, if not all, of the products, for months to come!) This is not your typical list, but I like it -- and hope you will, too!**
Many of these items are fairly expensive -- and definitely not the "cheap" version ... but given this was my second go-round at the baby thing, I knew what I needed and what I did not need -- and therefore, saved money by not buying the non-essentials, but splurged on other things!

1. Aden + Anais swaddle blankets.  These are HUGE, especially in comparison to the other swaddling blankets you'll find in a store.  (My other favorites are the double-sided flannel ones made by my grandma!)

2. Aden + Anais "nibble" bibs.  All of the Aden + Anais products are a muslin fabric, which doesn't seem so soft at first -- but after washing - are SO soft and absorbent.  The more you wash these products, the softer they get!

3. Aden + Anais "dribble" burpy bibs.  If I had to pick one ULTIMATE favorite A + A product, these would be it.  They look like burp cloths, but are contoured to fit perfectly over your shoulder AND they have snaps, so they can be snapped right around baby's neck and used as a bib as well as a burp cloth!  Brilliant!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!!!

4. Little Giraffes blankets.  Lucy and Max both have the "luxe" SUPER-soft blankies ... but I found this one - the Dolce Knit Blanket - this time around for Max, and I love it even more than the luxe blankets! It's not only soft, but stretchy, so it works perfectly for wrapping up your little bundle!  

1. Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play.  These are a new product since Lucy was a baby ... and I'm not sure how I lived without it last time!  This is what Max slept in for the first three months - for naps and at night.  It folds SO easily, so it was super-simple to transport from one room to another.  Baby sleeping on an incline seemed to help him sleep better and longer and kept me from worrying so much about him choking!
2. BOB Revolution Stroller.  A great stroller is a MUST.  And if you are looking for JUST ONE stroller that will "do it all", I think the BOB Revolution is your best bet.  Yes, it's a little on the big side for strolling through the mall - but it's totally workable.  My runner friends all love it for running with their babes (I wouldn't know about that one!) ... and it is great on and off-road!  There are also adapters for just about every brand of infant car seat, so you can snap your infant carrier right in when baby is still tiny!
**If you can afford an "off-road" stroller AND a "mall-type stroller" ... then I HIGHLY recommend the newest member of the Uppababy family -- the Cruz.

I seriously LOVE this stroller. 

It's lightweight, extremely well-maneuvered, lays all the way flat to accommodate the smallest of babies, HUGE cargo basket (the biggest I've seen), and very easy to fold.  I also have an adapter that allows me to snap Max's infant seat right in so I don't have to wake him up to put him in the stroller! 

Yes, it's spendy.  

But in my opinion, totally worth it ... and if you're like me and take excellent care of your baby gear, you will be able to turn around and sell it in a few years for 3/4 of what you paid, anyway!  

(**The Cruz also has a scooter board that can be attached to the back for older siblings to ride along! FUN!)

3. Fisher-Price Swing.  Both of my babies have LOVED their swings.  This one is great because it can sway from side-to-side OR front-to-back.  (Oddly, Lucy loved side-to-side and Max loves front-to-back!)  It is Max's favorite sleeping spot (and was Lucy's, as well) - and though I try to only let him nap in it once a day, it is so nice to know he will have at least one nice, long nap a day - thanks to his swing!
4. Beco Butterfly.  I know baby wearing is VERY popular these days ... and I can tell you, now that I have two kids, I am finding it much more necessary and helpful!  I can put Lucy in the stroller (or the grocery cart) and wear Max ... or just use it for that fussy hour (right about the time I'm trying to make dinner every night).  The Beco is very similar to the very popular Ergo - but I prefer the Beco because baby is easily moved from front to back (when they get old enough to be on the back, of course!).  The Beco also comes in many more cute fabric options than the Ergo -- although I just have the chocolate one, pictured above.

1. Angel Dear Blankies. (Or lovies, as we call them.)  These can be purchased separately - or in this awesome three-pack.  Max lights up the second he sees his lovie ... and he sleeps with his face buried in it (and it's thin enough I don't need to worry about that!).  He LOVES it!  (FABULOUS gift, if you ask me!)
2. Romeo the Toad (by Lilliputiens).  Kinda a silly "must have" maybe, but I L-O-V-E this toy!  First of all, it is adorable.  Second, it is very well-made and with high-quality materials.  And finally ... Max totally digs it!  The mirror was the first thing he loved ... now he loves all of the little creatures that hide inside Romeo's mouth.  Again - it's not a cheap product.  But it's several toys, wrapped into one - and personally, I'd rather have one QUALITY toy laying around my house than five or six cheap toys that aren't going to last long!
3. MAM glow-in-the-dark pacifiers.  These things ROCK my SOCKS.  The fact that I can walk into Max's dark room in the middle of the night when he's crying for his binkie .... and actually FIND it WITHOUT TURNING ON THE LIGHTS is GENIUS!  (Okay, that's a lot of capitals, but seriously folks.  So. Darn. Smart!)
4. Twilight Turtle (or Ladybug) by Cloud B - or the Dream Lites work, too!  These things have been a total lifesaver for us.  We started using Lucy's Ladybug when she was just days old.  During night feedings, rather than turning on a light or lamp (and waking her up more than necessary), I would just turn on the stars!  It gives just enough light to be able to see what you're doing - yet it's not too bright!  And babies love to stare at those stars from the get-go! (At least mine did!)  Lucy (4+ years later) still INSISTS on going to sleep under the stars. :-)

1. Baby Gap jammies.  Why Gap?  Well .... let me tell you.  

And show you:

See that GOLD snap? (pardon my scary fingers)
On Gap's baby clothes . . . the very middle snap on the top and the bottom is GOLD.  (The rest are silver.)  And let's be honest, moms . . . how many times have you snapped those suckers up and ended up with an extra snap in the wrong spot!?  Ugh!  So frustrating!
With Gap's baby clothes, this problem is solved!  Love it!
2. No Rinse Wash.  Okay, call me lazy . . . but I just don't wanna give my baby a bath EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.  And quite frankly, they say it's not great for their skin, anyway.
Especially in the first week or two - before the umbilical stump has fallen off and you can't submerge them in water, anyway - this No Rinse Wash is AWESOME.
It's just a bubbly foam that you rub on the skin, then wipe away with a dry towel! Easy-peasy. : )~
3. Robeez kick-proof socks.  I know I'm brand-name dropping again, but ya gotta go with what works, people.
And Robeez socks STAY ON BABY FEET!!!  It's a big deal.  Trust me.  I had at least a half-dozen other brands . . . they all fell off.  Maybe it's me.  But all I know is me, myself, and I like Robeez socks for baby feet!
4. Grass Drying Rack (and accessories) by Boon.  These came about right after I had Lucy, so I missed out last time.  (Not this time around!)  I love it!  It's kinda funky to see a patch of grass sitting on your counter, but it's just cute and unique, and I love how it holds bottles, bottle parts, pump parts, and anything else you need for baby.  (*Note: It comes in two sizes.  I got the smaller size and wish I'd gotten the larger size!)

And my final favorite baby item?
A GREAT diaper bag that you LOVE . . .

This is my diaper bag.  The Organic Sashay Satchel in Daisy Dewdrops by Petunia Pickle Bottom.
Nope.  Not cheap.
But you know what?  I carry this thing around on my arm every. single. day.
It is not only functional -- with PLENTY of room for baby needs, snacks for Lucy, AND my wallet/keys/etc. -- but it's also fashionable and doesn't scream "DIAPER BAG!!!"  It's just a cute bag.
I seriously love this thing.  (AND I actually scored it on sale, so I paid around $90 ... worth every penny and more.)

Phew!
That was exhausting.
I know my list is a little different from the "norm" -- but I hope maybe you'll find one or two (or more!) things you like, too!
(*And if I know you - and you're expecting a baby - you can be expecting some of these things for your showers! ... you can still pretend to be surprised : )~

Which of YOUR favorite baby items did I leave off my list? :-)